26/12Result
1st Test, Afghanistan tour of Zimbabwe at Bulawayo, Dec 26-30 2024
Match drawn
Player of the Match
Hashmatullah ShahidiAfghanistan
26/12Result
1st Test, Afghanistan tour of Zimbabwe at Bulawayo, Dec 26-30 2024
Match drawn
Player of the Match
Hashmatullah ShahidiAfghanistan

END OF OVER:
197 | 6 Runs 3 Wkts | AFG: 699/10

  • Shahidullah29 (42b)
  • Brian Bennett28-1-95-5
  • Sean Williams45-1-145-2

Hayes: "Not sure if that's the most hard earned, or least hard earned 5-wicket haul I've ever seen. I guess it was deserved for the hard toil beforehand."

Mohamed Ejaz: "Ball keeping low at times. 113 Lead, almost 50 overs to play! Is this a blessing in disguise for Afghanistan??" --- Indeed!

1.18pm Afghanistan lose 6 for 20 in four overs after lunch, and are bowled out for 699. Bennett got five of those six wickets to fall - he was twice on a hat-trick, but missed out both times - as Afghanistan evidently looked for quick runs. Amid all the rush, though, remember Shahidi scored 246, and ensured Afghanistan finished 113 ahead of Zimbabwe. We saw Williams getting some appreciable turn in the last few overs, so don't rule out Afghanistan's spinners causing trouble to Zimbabwe's batters, who will come out with the mindset of saving the game. Join us in ten for Zimbabwe's second innings.

196.6
W
Bennett to Zahir Khan, OUT, Bennett has five! Afghanistan are rolled over after lunch. He slowed it down on this occasion, and got this to dip on a fullish length on middle and off. The ball went on with the angle from around the wicket, and while Zahir looked to push forward from off, he was beaten and struck in front. Bennett knew he had his man, and got the decision he wanted even before he completed his appeal

Zahir Khan lbw b Bennett 0 (1m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0

196.5
0
Bennett to Zahir Khan, no run, fullish length around off, and blocked down safely

Bennett from around the wicket

Hat-trick ball. Zahir on strike.

196.4
W
Bennett to Naveed Zadran, OUT, gone! The middle stump is flattened first ball! Bennett is on a hat-trick again. Again Bennett bowled on a short of a length, although this one came around middle and off. Naveed looked to half-swipe at it, almost as if having decided to play this shot last night itself. But the ball kept low, and he ended up getting a bottom edge

Naveed Zadran b Bennett 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0

Naveed

196.3
W
Bennett to Ghazanfar, OUT, taken at long-on! Afghanistan are in search of quick runs, and that is costing them wickets. Bennett bowled this on a short of a length around middle and off, and naturally, the pace was a bit quicker. It almost seemed to hurry on to Ghazanfar, who looked to whip it hard, but ended up skying it down the ground. Gwandu went low and slid to his right to grab the ball just over the ground

AM Ghazanfar c Gwandu b Bennett 6 (3m 4b 0x4 1x6) SR: 150

196.2
0
Bennett to Ghazanfar, no run, again he makes room, but this time Bennett slows it down, and goes on a length around leg. It turns in, and hits Ghazanfar as he looks to fend
196.1
6
Bennett to Ghazanfar, SIX, wow! A real thumping from Ghazanfar! He backs away, spots this short-of-a-length ball outside off, and clubs this over long-off for six

END OF OVER:
196 | 9 Runs 1 Wkt | AFG: 693/7

  • Shahidullah29 (42b)
  • AM Ghazanfar0 (1b)
  • Sean Williams45-1-145-2
  • Brian Bennett27-1-89-2
195.6
2
Williams to Shahidullah, 2 runs, on a length, and arriving outside off. Cut away towards deep third for two runs
195.5
3lb
Williams to Ghazanfar, 3 leg byes, superb ball! Williams went wide of the crease, and bowled this on the fuller side of a length on middle. The ball turned away sharply, hitting the back leg, and beating the keeper and slip, as Ghazanfar opened the face of the bat and looked to guide it

Ghazanfar

195.4
W
Williams to Zia-ur-Rehman, OUT, excellent catch by the sub fielder Marumani! He was placed at long-on - maybe just a few steps inside - but ran forward a long way while keeping his eyes on the ball all along. Eventually, he grabbed it and tumbled forward as Williams got his second wicket. Williams had angled this in, and bowled on a fullish length on the stumps, only for Zia to try and hoick this across the line. But he ended up miscuing it, and the ball ballooned off the top half of the bat

Zia-ur-Rehman c sub (T Marumani) b Williams 5 (10m 7b 0x4 0x6) SR: 71.42

195.3
1
Williams to Shahidullah, 1 run, short of a length on middle and off, and slapped to deep backward point
195.2
1
Williams to Zia-ur-Rehman, 1 run, comes down the pitch, and ends up almost swiping at this ball which ends up being very full for him around sixth stump. Single to long-on

Matthew: "Azmatullah Omarzai, the most disappointed man in world cricket today! Missed out on the chance to score big on the friendliest surface he will likely ever play on."

195.1
2
Williams to Zia-ur-Rehman, 2 runs, this is flat and on a length n the stumps. Whipped to deep square leg

END OF OVER:
195 | 2 Runs | AFG: 684/6

  • Shahidullah26 (40b)
  • Zia-ur-Rehman2 (4b)
  • Brian Bennett27-1-89-2
  • Sean Williams44-1-139-1
194.6
0
Bennett to Shahidullah, no run, this is the legspinner from Bennett! He bowls it short and wide outside off, and Shahidullah slaps to point again
194.5
0
Bennett to Shahidullah, no run, on a short of a length around off, and cut away hard. But the man at point dives to his left to stop it
194.4
1
Bennett to Zia-ur-Rehman, 1 run, down the pitch, and drives this length ball outside off to long-on
194.3
0
Bennett to Zia-ur-Rehman, no run, ohh, full and much slower on off. Blocked down on the pitch

Match Coverage

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Zimbabwe 3rd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st73J GumbieBJ Curran
2nd2T KaitanoBJ Curran
3rd6SC WilliamsT Kaitano
4th7SC WilliamsD Myers
5th54CR ErvineSC Williams